Saturday, November 30, 2013

Centenary College will host the Wideman International Piano Competition on Dec. 6-8, says Lester Senter Wilson.

The 2013 Wideman International Piano Competition will be held Dec. 6-8 at Centenary’s Hurley School of Music. Admission to the preliminary rounds is free and open to the public. Admission to the final competition is free for students and $10 per person for the public.

"Take a walk on the wild side this Thanksgiving on a National Wildlife Refuge," says the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.

"For a brief spell, flee the turkeys at your Thanksgiving table and seek some wilder birds this year. Explore a foot trail at a national wildlife refuge, thrill to some seasonal wildlife, and emerge looking less like a butterball yourself. Red River Refuge offers impressive autumn colors and great bird viewing in late November."

Refuge trails are open sunrise to sunset daily, even on Thanksgiving Day when refuge visitor centers will be closed. Free trail maps are available outside the visitor center or at a refuge entrance kiosk.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The St. George's Bossier Masterworks Series will present concert guitarist and Centaur recording artist Giovanni De Chiaro, says Kermit Poling. The concert, featuring Christmas music for guitar, takes place on Sunday December 15, 2013 at 2 pm in the sanctuary of St. George's Episcopal Church, 1959 Airline Drive in Bossier City.

Global Arts Team, InSide/Out, will be in Shreveport Common taking and posting photographs of Shreveport Common residents/clients on a building that can be seen as a “Gateway” into this historically rich neighborhood, says Casey Jones.

SRAC’s hope is to set up an appointment time dedicated to you and your family, friends, fans with the InSide/Out team. During this time your group would be photographed (individually) and (as willing) our team of professional storytellers/writers would gather your story.

Come to UnScene on Saturday, December 14, any time between noon and 6 pm; check in at the Central ArtStation; and let us get your Face photographed by the InSide / Out team. Or... if you can’t join in the Fun on Saturday, schedule an appointment for Fri, Dec 13. Please email info@shrevearts.org if you would like to schedule an appointment on Fri, Dec 13.

In regards the photo above of artist Nadine Charity. In 2011 she sent her portrait to the French artist JR, initiator of the InSide/Out Project, and was sent the enlargement seen above. JR's only request was that it be posted somewhere in public. That was the beginning of 2 years of posting on the Beauty Supply Building and, as far as we know, the beginning of InSide/Out involvement with Shreveport.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

"Artists around Highland will throw open their homes, studios and workshops for some organic, free-wheeling fun on Sun, Dec 1," says Liz Swaine. "The monthly event is never the same twice, there are always different locations, artists and experiences to well, experience! HOSTS was started by Highland artists Su Stella and Curt Harville, two visual artists who work in various mediums. Their workshop at 436 Topeka is the first stop on the tour each month and the location where you will be welcomed with maps showing the other participating stops. In 2011, Highland became only the second state-approved Cultural District in Shreveport-Bossier."

Saturday, November 23, 2013

The Naked BeansGiving, a holiday-themed event benefiting The Food Bank NWLA, The Renzi Center, Pet Savers, Robinson Rescue and TSR Baby Momma, will be held at the Naked Bean Cafe on Wednesday, November 27, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Live music will be provided by Christina Kilpatrick, Kern Courtney, Daniel Dawson, Ian Quiet and Mike Bryant, with Eric Gipson as emcee.

A silent auction will feature abstract works by Shreveport artist Tracy Prator. Thanksgiving fare with a Cajun twist, plus deserts and specialty coffees, will be be provided by the Naked Bean's barista and culinary specialist Dawn Gipson.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Reservations: www.shreveporthouseconcerts.org/reservations or by calling 318-933-2514 and leaving a message. We are glad to see your interest in the show here and to see all of our friends who are coming but please make your reservation so we can reserve your seat, says Jim Huckabay.
A night of blues featuring two of the masters, and long time friends. Highly recommended.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

UnScene brings the Inside Out photo truck to Texas Ave on Sat, Dec 14. Initiated by the French artist JR, Inside Out is an artist group that has exhibited all around the world.

People from some 108 countries have participated in photography, printing and Unheard of sized paste up projects. The Inside Out project has inspired group action on themes such as hope, diversity, gender-based violence, and climate change.

In addition to the street art, the day will be filled with artists & musicians performing in Shreveport Common. Below is a list of confirmed happenings.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The top five Highland Jazz and Blues Fest questions trending right now, says Kenney Koonce, are . . .

1) Is there an admission fee? There is absolutely no admission fee. Save your money to spend with our vendors and maybe pick up a festival T-shirt or three. Really, they're great! You're going to leave with something.

2) Who's playing? when are they playing? And what's good to eat? See our website. Our webmaster worked really hard on it. Swing by and admire it.

3) Are dogs allowed? Yes, we love our dogs and have set up an area just for them. What we don't like...owners who don't clean up after them.

4) Can I bring my own food or drinks? Well, why would you want to do a thing like that? We're know for our food! Plus the drink sales are invested back into the event and allow us to keep it free.

5) Is it too late to get a vendor booth? We have rearranged, recounted and now re-closed the vendor application. We love our vendors.

A reminder: there's an all-fest Mall St Vincent free shuttle so that you don't have to hassle with parking.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

"In Muscle Shoals, Alabama, music runs through the hills, the river, and the spirit of the people. It is a place where, even before the Civil Rights Movement really took shape, the color of your skin didn't matter inside the studio," says Rottentomatoes.com, where the movie gets a 92% from the audience, 97% from critics.

Kenney Koonce, director of the Highland Jazz & Blues Fest says, "Try our free shuttle service provided by iShuttle and Mall St Vincent. All non-residents are asked to use this service to alleviate congestion in the neighborhood."

"iShuttle will dispatch their entire fleet, beginning at 9:30 AM. They will loop continuously throughout the day. Pickup is in the northeast lot of the mall (outside Dillard's Men Store). Drop-off is curbside on Creswell Ave."

He adds, "You'll want to bring plenty of cash and your holiday shopping list to the 10th annual HJBF. More than 40 artist vendors will be on hand with their wares."

Monday, November 04, 2013

"We. We run this town. Let's turn this motherf*cker upside down." Whether Dirtfoot's energy was planing off as the group enters its eighth year is answered by the album "Coming Up for Air." It snorts and rocks the trough like the guys have been delivered again.

The above opening line, from their original "I am a man," sets the tone for an album that juggles steel cojones. By the second number, "Hypocrisy," I realized ("Rats are in the cellar. Rats are filled with cheese.") that the drumming (Derek Russell, Daniel Breithaupt) is more muscular than ever.

"Sweet love" begins with tight rockabilly energy and then throws out devastating horn lines to punctuate the anger ("I'd like to go back in time and kick some ass.") Seems it was a good idea to bring ReBirth Brass Band up from New Orleans for the sessions. Cut after cut the ReBirth fits Dirtfoot like a sheet metal shank.

Maniacal saxman Scott Gerardy plays like a tripping lead guitarist. Tune after tune he pushes the arrangements over the top.

The connections between the voices of Jim Morrison and Matt Hazelton are more apparent to me than ever. J Bratlie's voice soars in counterpoint. The melodies seem defiant.

I'm not sure if Dirtfoot likes to be called a Klezmer band from a Goy town, but they are. "Break my bones" is a jigging Levantine romp.

"The night John Zooke died" features the siliconic slide of former Shreveporter Papa Mali. It's the voodoo side of Dirtfoot. One of the pleasures of this band is that the clarity of the vocals reveals a sure sense of storytelling, if for the sake of stories noir. They tell tales about love burned out in "Heroin" and of a tequila woman in "Amelia Earhart."

After over an hour of music the sextet barks out the demonic, pounding "Underwater Turtle." This nihilist screed (did bassist Nathan Woods help write this one?) sounds something like George Clinton meets the Clash. "Turtle" could become the sig tune for the band in this era.

UnScene returns for a second month - of 12 planned months - co-mingled with the Texas Avenue Makers Fair in Shreveport Common. The super celebration is Sat, Nov 9, and produces a 10 hour day on the Avenue.